Guest guest Posted December 11, 2006 Report Share Posted December 11, 2006 I finally know what stage and grade of dibc I have. I am triple negative, stage 1c and grade 3. I have to have 4 sessions of chemo - one every three weeks then radiation. I am 63 yrs of age and they will be using taxotere & cyotoxan it will last about 2 and one half hours per treatment. Can anyone give me any insight as to side effects, just anything you know of this would be helpful to me. also if anyone is triple negative out there could you tell me what your treatment is. they said 30 percent chance of reoccurance if I don't have chemo and with Chemo I would only have a 10% chance of it returning. My fear is if I will survive the treatments of Chemo or not. any help would be appreciated. It was not in my lymph nodes and my margins were clear. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 11, 2006 Report Share Posted December 11, 2006 Hi Dee, Thanks for letting us know. If you look over the last few days posts there has been a discussion on the triple negative diagnosis. If you can't find them maybe the ladies will be kind enough to post their replies again. I will keep you in my prayers. Hugs nne Breast Cancer Patients Soul Mates for Life http://www.geocities.com/chucky5741/breastcancerpatients.html BreastCancerStories.com http://www.breastcancerstories.com/content/view/433/161/ Angel Feather Loomer www.angelfeatherloomer.blogspot.com Check out my other ornaments at www.geocities.com/chucky5741/bcornament.html Lots of info and gifts at: www.cancerclub.com HI, THIS IS DEE I finally know what stage and grade of dibc I have. I am triple negative, stage 1c and grade 3. I have to have 4 sessions of chemo - one every three weeks then radiation. I am 63 yrs of age and they will be using taxotere & cyotoxan it will last about 2 and one half hours per treatment. Can anyone give me any insight as to side effects, just anything you know of this would be helpful to me. also if anyone is triple negative out there could you tell me what your treatment is. they said 30 percent chance of reoccurance if I don't have chemo and with Chemo I would only have a 10% chance of it returning. My fear is if I will survive the treatments of Chemo or not. any help would be appreciated. It was not in my lymph nodes and my margins were clear. Thanks ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.409 / Virus Database: 268.15.15/581 - Release Date: 12/9/2006 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 11, 2006 Report Share Posted December 11, 2006 -I just finished the chemo you describeand it was not all that bad. I had taxal and cytoxan and only missed three days of work (I am a teacher) because of treatments. I am 58. It is not easy but not nearly as hard as I thought it would be. I also had four cycles. I do not know about the triple negative or the grading. I have stage II, grade 2m and no node involvement. I to radiation. For the chemo, just do whatever they tell you to do. Take the meds for nausea like clockwork. Drink liters of water and stay calm. If I can do it, so can you. I lost my hair and so will you. I never suffered terriby from anything. Losing my hair was the hardest and some fatigue but all very doable. Good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 11, 2006 Report Share Posted December 11, 2006 Dee, I am triple negative.... Stage IIIc (I think, as only metastic bc is in the lymph nodes) grade 3. I had 4 sessions of A/C and then 4 of Taxotere, with radiation at the same time. I can tell you I had trouble with the first treatment of each, A/C and Taxotere but once things were adjusted, I was okay. The Cytoxin (C part of A/C) was given too quickly with too little fluid, caused me a big headache and a night in ER. On my second treatment they slowed things down with more fluid and I did better. The first treatment of Taxotere, I got too much steroid (controls the side effects of Taxotere) and ended up in ER and hospital for 4 days, due to sore stomach, dehydration and bottoming out of white blood cells as I did not automatically get the Neulasta shot for the first Taxotere treatment. Second treatment, they cut the steroid in half with more fluid, and the Neulasta shot and I did better. BUT, remember, we are each different and each of us reacts differently to these drugs. You could breeze right through without any problems. If you have any problems after your treatment, be sure and call your DRs office and let them know. They will help you through whatever it is. Barb Michigan HI, THIS IS DEE I finally know what stage and grade of dibc I have. I am triple negative, stage 1c and grade 3. I have to have 4 sessions of chemo - one every three weeks then radiation. I am 63 yrs of age and they will be using taxotere & cyotoxan it will last about 2 and one half hours per treatment. Can anyone give me any insight as to side effects, just anything you know of this would be helpful to me. also if anyone is triple negative out there could you tell me what your treatment is. they said 30 percent chance of reoccurance if I don't have chemo and with Chemo I would only have a 10% chance of it returning. My fear is if I will survive the treatments of Chemo or not. any help would be appreciated. It was not in my lymph nodes and my margins were clear. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 12, 2006 Report Share Posted December 12, 2006 Hi Dee, That sounds like a reasonable recommendation for treatment, considering your diagnosis. I'm basing that on my diagnosis, which is virtually the same. March of this year, diagnosed with Stage 1c, grade 3 invasive B/C. ER (weakly pos) PR-neg, her2nu-neg, no node involvment, clean margins. I had 4 A/C treatments and then 33 radiation treatments. I'm 48 years old. I did take my chemo every 2 weeks because I was anxious to get it over with before the school year ended and the kids were home for the summer. It was agressive to do that, but I would recommend every three weeks because then you have a bit more time to recoop between them. Your oncologist team will help you with anti-nausea drugs and they may need to be adjusted or added to after the treatments. They are cumulative, so the effects can be also. One of the biggest tips I'll pass on is drink plenty of water during chemo and make sure that you take colace or some sort of stool softener, because the anti-nausea drugs (as well as some chemo) causes constipation - big time! That was my worst side effect, and I had it because I didn't stay on top of controlling it - so be forewarned. Chemo effects everyone differently, so you may not have many side effects at all. Some haven't! I don't think that anyone in this group would " recommend " chemo - cuz its just not fun or even pleasant - but for me, it was the best treatment option. You're young - you can do it! My outlook has always been to give myself the best options of fighting this. Whatever you choose, do what is right for you and your family. Hugs! Ellen > > I finally know what stage and grade of dibc I have. I am triple > negative, stage 1c and grade 3. I have to have 4 sessions of chemo - > one every three weeks then radiation. I am 63 yrs of age and they will > be using taxotere & cyotoxan it will last about 2 and one half hours > per treatment. > Can anyone give me any insight as to side effects, just anything you > know of this would be helpful to me. also if anyone is triple negative > out there could you tell me what your treatment is. > they said 30 percent chance of reoccurance if I don't have chemo and > with Chemo I would only have a 10% chance of it returning. My fear is > if I will survive the treatments of Chemo or not. any help would be > appreciated. > It was not in my lymph nodes and my margins were clear. > Thanks > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 14, 2006 Report Share Posted December 14, 2006 My doctor did not mention the Neulasta shot. Why is it given? Jeez! You reall had a reaction, I admire you for continuing the treatment. I even hate to ask this after all you have gone through but did you lose your hair and/or nails? Its so good to talk to someone with the same dignosis and same treatment. Thank you Hugs Dee doloresrose.scent-team.com Once you try Mia Bella candles there will be no other! CIAO! DEEBELLA --------------------------------- Want to start your own business? Learn how on Yahoo! Small Business. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 14, 2006 Report Share Posted December 14, 2006 Hi Dee, Neulast is a drug given to people who have their white blood cells decreased below safe limits by chemo. In general is given to people having the dose dense therapy (every two weeks instead of every three). With the dose dense therapy the body is not able to recover before the next chemo and the person can have severe neutropenia (white blood cell deficiency). Neulasta induces production of white blood cells. it has its perks and it is absurdly expensive, so unless you really need it and/or are having dose dense therapy they don't give you. I had 8 chemo sessions, dose dense. So I had 1 shots of neulasta (similar, actually) every day for 8-10 days, beginning in the second day after chemo. Besides the expense, one must be careful with neulasta because of side effects. I lost my hair 12 days after the first chemo (A/C). My nails didn't fall, they got very dark. On my last chemo, with Taxotere, some of my nails lifted a little, but didn't fall. Taxol/taxotere was very hard on me. Hugs Re: HI, THIS IS DEE My doctor did not mention the Neulasta shot. Why is it given? Jeez! You reall had a reaction, I admire you for continuing the treatment. I even hate to ask this after all you have gone through but did you lose your hair and/or nails? Its so good to talk to someone with the same dignosis and same treatment. Thank you Hugs Dee doloresrose. scent-team. com Once you try Mia Bella candles there will be no other! CIAO! DEEBELLA ------------ --------- --------- --- Want to start your own business? Learn how on Yahoo! Small Business. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 15, 2006 Report Share Posted December 15, 2006 Thanks to all of you who answered my post. It has helped me out a lot and I am not so nervous. Of course the first day is not till Jan 5Th, I am sure my nerves will be different then! I have already purchased a wig and 2 hair pieces and a hat. The wig is not human hair but I thought it was pretty good until I went to my hairdresser and she just about had a fit. She said I should of bought a human hair wig. Well with our financial situation right now I am happy I was able to purchase what I did! I am so glad I have that behind me. I hope to be able to continue to work because my husband just lost his job. The place went into bankruptcy. Right now we are waiting for Cobra papers to fill out so I can get back on to insurance. A couple of health insurance companies will not accept me because of having a pre-condition medical problem. We are paying out of our pocket for prescriptions. This is something I wish did not have to be dealt with. I have enough on my plate with out having worries about money. My main goal is to focus on getting well and surviving Chemo & radiation. To be a survivor and help others who did not expect to have breast cancer ever. That was me - it does not run in my family at all. I read the posts everyday and I have learned so much. My doctors were surprised at how much I knew and I told them about this support group. I pray for everyone on this support group everyday, take one day at a time and try to make the best out of it. Hugs to all Dee doloresrose.scent-team.com Once you try Mia Bella candles there will be no other! CIAO! DEEBELLA __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 15, 2006 Report Share Posted December 15, 2006 Hi Dee. I did the same thing - purchasing the wig and hat - as soon as I started my first round of chemo . As far as human versus non human hair, I have both types now and they both look fine. Human hair is SO expensive but there are so many synthetic wigs available . I wouldn't take either one to be styled by a hairdresser, though, because they can be easily damaged. I go to a woman who works out of her home and is affiliated with the local cancer gruops here in my area. She knows what products to use on them, how to style them, etc. Most hairdressers do not have that knowledge. I'm so sorry about your problems with the insurance; you may want to contact the American Cancer Society or a group called Y-Me and they be able to help you with the insurance or at least give you information on what to do. Please take care and good luck with your treatments. I started with chemo, then the surgery and then the radiation. Mine keeps popping up and I am currently receiving chemo again. It's not the way I wanted to spend the holiday season, but it's just something else to deal with - lol. Ellen -------------- Original message -------------- Thanks to all of you who answered my post. It has helped me out a lot and I am not so nervous. Of course the first day is not till Jan 5Th, I am sure my nerves will be different then! I have already purchased a wig and 2 hair pieces and a hat. The wig is not human hair but I thought it was pretty good until I went to my hairdresser and she just about had a fit. She said I should of bought a human hair wig. Well with our financial situation right now I am happy I was able to purchase what I did! I am so glad I have that behind me. I hope to be able to continue to work because my husband just lost his job. The place went into bankruptcy. Right now we are waiting for Cobra papers to fill out so I can get back on to insurance. A couple of health insurance companies will not accept me because of having a pre-condition medical problem. We are paying out of our pocket for prescriptions. This is something I wish did not have to be dealt with. I have enough on my plate with out having worries about money. My main goal is to focus on getting well and surviving Chemo & radiation. To be a survivor and help others who did not expect to have breast cancer ever. That was me - it does not run in my family at all. I read the posts everyday and I have learned so much. My doctors were surprised at how much I knew and I told them about this support group. I pray for everyone on this support group everyday, take one day at a time and try to make the best out of it. Hugs to all Dee doloresrose.scent-team.com Once you try Mia Bella candles there will be no other! CIAO! DEEBELLA __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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